November 11, 2022

Marriages for the Masses


Marriages for the Masses
Weddings are so much more colorful these days. Unknown photographer

As Russian men are being sent off to war in Ukraine, many couples, feeling the pressure, are tying the knot.

State wedding registration centers (ZAGSes) are reporting a sharp increase in wedding ceremonies as couples rush to get married before grooms are sent to the Ukrainian front line.

In some regions, the number of weddings in the past months has doubled or tripled over the same time last year. In St. Petersburg, officials have even asked that ZAGS staff expedite weddings and marry couples in batches. In total, there have been more than 30,000 weddings in Russia since Putin signed mobilization orders in September.

While for many this may be an act of love, it's being speculated that marriage may also be a way of ensuring benefits to a spouse, should something happen to the husband in combat. According to Radio Free Europe, families are entitled to financial compensation equaling over $100,000, as well as other goodies that unmarried couples aren't entitled to.

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